Boehner Pressures Senate to Negotiate; Path Ahead Uncertain

NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images (WASHINGTON) -- Eighty-five minutes after the government shut down, the House of Representatives adjourned and House Speaker John Boehner left the Capitol without an agreement in place to open it back up but adamant that the Affordable Care Act remains the GOP's chief target in the showdown with President Obama and Congressional Democrats.

"The House has made its position known very clearly. We believe that we should fund the government and we think there ought to be basic fairness for all Americans under Obamacare," Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters at a late night news conference. "The Senate has continued to reject our offers but under the Constitution there's a way to resolve this process and that is to go to conference, and talk through your differences."

Asked whether he is now prepared to vote on a clean continuing resolution, Boehner maintained that Republicans "are hoping that the Senate will take our offer to go to conference."

"Let us resolve our differences," he said. "The House has voted to keep the government open but we also want basic fairness for all Americans under Obamacare."

The path toward ending the shutdown is uncertain, with neither side signaling they are ready to buckle despite the political weight of a government shutdown. The House is scheduled to reconvene at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday morning while the Senate is expected to meet at 9:30 a.m.